Thousands of former North East miners have received more than £396m from the Government in compensation payments.

Figures released by the Department of Trade and Industry reveal a total of 112,709 claims for respiratory complaints and vibration white finger (VWF) have been made since the compensation scheme was set up.

In this region, a total of £291.9m has been paid out for 89,625 claims of respiratory disease, the second highest payout after Wales. A further £104m has gone to 23,084 claiming for VWF, the fourth highest payout in the country.

Since it started in late 1999, the scheme has been dogged with controversy over some solicitors overcharging and lengthy waits for payment.

Last month, the Law Society wrote to all the solicitors firms dealing with claims and said the continued controversy surrounding charges had damaged confidence in solicitors and the system.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has said a `fast track' payment scheme introduced last year has speeded up the payment process for chest complaints.

But former miner Terry Meadows, who has already made successful claims for chest and hearing problems, says he has been waiting since 2004 to settle his VWF payout.

The 57-year-old, from Chopwell, Gateshead, was a miner from the age of 16 until 1985 and only developed symptoms of the crippling condition in his hands in 2001.

Roger Maddox, based in the Newcastle office of Irwin Mitchell, is a member of the coordinating group of solicitors dealing with claims against British Coal.

He said: "We need to remember the payments are not in any way a bonus.

"This is compensation for people who have suffered real industrial illness which could have been prevented. The cost of the payouts is the price of years of neglect, negligence and mismanagement by British Coal."